Mets rookie pitcher Steven Matz to begin rehab assignment Saturday
New York Mets pitcher Steven Matz will begin a minor-league rehab assignment on Saturday, general manager Sandy Alderson told reporters Monday.
Matz, the Mets’ top overall prospect, has been sidelined since July 5 with a partially torn lat muscle. Matz had complained of stiffness in his left side after his major-league debut on June 28 but Mets doctors cleared him to pitch again on July 5. He was scratched from his next start and went on the disabled list after being diagnosed with a partially torn muscle.
The Mets will limit Matz to roughly 25 pitches in his rehab start on Saturday with the Class A St. Lucie Mets. Alderson said he hopes Matz will be ready to return to the majors near the start of next month, at which point the Mets will use a six-man rotation.
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Matz allowed two runs over 7 2/3 innings in his debut and pitched six scoreless innings in his second start. He also went 3 for 6 at the plate and drove in five runs, including four RBIs in his first game.
The Mets have won seven of their last nine to overtake the Washington Nationals for first place in the NL East.
- Dan Gartland
